Hello everyone,
I hope I’m posting my questions in the right place.
The first question is whether we simply have to accept the increased costs for the foundation slab without consultation. At first, we were told that 40 cm (16 inches) of excavation would be needed. After the soil report, it was 70 cm (28 inches), and during excavation, it turned out to be 92 cm (36 inches)... all without prior notice. The whole foundation slab is now about 9,000 euros more expensive than initially quoted. What bothers us is that we were presented with a fait accompli.
Then there is the telecommunications provider. The road will have to be reopened for this connection, and of course, we are expected to pay for that as well. The basic connection also costs around 700 euros. The civil engineer who opens the road for the telecom provider invoices separately, and we don’t understand why all these tasks have to be done multiple times instead of being better coordinated.
The surveyor or the architect—we’re not quite sure—also made a mistake. Our house was planned 37 cm (14.5 inches) too low and now has to be set higher. This means we’ll have to bring in more soil in the garden to maintain the planned ground-level access to the terrace. Again, more costs that were not anticipated. Do we just have to accept this as well?
We checked with our local utilities about what applications are required to connect a new build to the supply network. They sent us applications for electricity and water, costing nearly 7,000 euros. Then, last week, we heard from several neighbors (in a complete new development) that the drainage work must be done by a subsidiary of the utilities. One neighboring property had to pay an extra 11,000 euros on top of the house connections for this—and the invoice came from the utilities, not the subsidiary. We feel quite taken advantage of. For us, this means about 8,500 euros more on top.
Do we just have to accept all of this, or what can we do? At the moment, we’re quite desperate, and the cost spiral keeps turning. We are not in a position to judge whether all this is justified or what’s still coming. We thought we had planned well. We even consulted various advisors and friends with building experience... but right now, we really feel lost, and more financing is looming.
Best regards
I hope I’m posting my questions in the right place.
The first question is whether we simply have to accept the increased costs for the foundation slab without consultation. At first, we were told that 40 cm (16 inches) of excavation would be needed. After the soil report, it was 70 cm (28 inches), and during excavation, it turned out to be 92 cm (36 inches)... all without prior notice. The whole foundation slab is now about 9,000 euros more expensive than initially quoted. What bothers us is that we were presented with a fait accompli.
Then there is the telecommunications provider. The road will have to be reopened for this connection, and of course, we are expected to pay for that as well. The basic connection also costs around 700 euros. The civil engineer who opens the road for the telecom provider invoices separately, and we don’t understand why all these tasks have to be done multiple times instead of being better coordinated.
The surveyor or the architect—we’re not quite sure—also made a mistake. Our house was planned 37 cm (14.5 inches) too low and now has to be set higher. This means we’ll have to bring in more soil in the garden to maintain the planned ground-level access to the terrace. Again, more costs that were not anticipated. Do we just have to accept this as well?
We checked with our local utilities about what applications are required to connect a new build to the supply network. They sent us applications for electricity and water, costing nearly 7,000 euros. Then, last week, we heard from several neighbors (in a complete new development) that the drainage work must be done by a subsidiary of the utilities. One neighboring property had to pay an extra 11,000 euros on top of the house connections for this—and the invoice came from the utilities, not the subsidiary. We feel quite taken advantage of. For us, this means about 8,500 euros more on top.
Do we just have to accept all of this, or what can we do? At the moment, we’re quite desperate, and the cost spiral keeps turning. We are not in a position to judge whether all this is justified or what’s still coming. We thought we had planned well. We even consulted various advisors and friends with building experience... but right now, we really feel lost, and more financing is looming.
Best regards
P
Peanuts7410 Jun 2016 09:26Payday schrieb:
Sorry, who would do something like that ?????? First, you tell me to spend a fortune on soil, then you start cutting corners in the next step? All paved areas—if you really want to do it properly—should be backfilled with 80cm (31 inches) of frost-resistant gravel! The soil excavated from the house site is spread around the garden for the lawn, etc. No special requirements there, except of course to remove any large stones. Saving 10,000€ can be worth spending 2-3 afternoons raking stones.
Of course, you should talk to your excavation contractor, but keep in mind they are not impartial—they want to make money. They will always tell you that other soil is better (which is true, since it’s screened and free of stones, etc.). But is it worth the cost, and more importantly, do you really have 10,000€+ to spend on it? If the soil is full of rubbish, it will need to be replaced eventually, but not because of a few bits of clay or some stones.Who knows who does such nonsense, I only said you can’t just generally say to backfill with the excavated soil. Depending on what will be placed on top or how the lawn will turn out later, that might not work. Clay soil especially is hard to work with properly, and later water can collect around the house in the garden, where it would have drained away with gravel.
Having 80cm (31 inches) of gravel under the terrace is fine, but the ground underneath also needs to be load-bearing. It doesn’t help to dump 2 meters (6.5 feet) of excavated soil into the hole and then put 80cm (31 inches) of crushed stone on top of it.
S
Sebastian7910 Jun 2016 10:07What nonsense about the 80cm (31.5 inches) – that is not required anywhere. Usually, for driveways, 30-40cm (12-16 inches) of base material (gravel) is required.
This definitely has nothing to do with it and would simply be wasted money...
This definitely has nothing to do with it and would simply be wasted money...
P
Peanuts7410 Jun 2016 10:33Logically, few people would choose 80cm (31.5 inches). The main point is really that the soil underneath needs to be load-bearing and not just filled excavation material, regardless of its consistency or composition.
S
Sebastian7910 Jun 2016 10:37When backfilling, compaction is always necessary – that should be obvious.
It’s no different here, especially since the basement hole was at least under the garage.
It’s no different here, especially since the basement hole was at least under the garage.
P
Peanuts7410 Jun 2016 10:42SHOULD!!! But have you ever tried to compact (preferably still damp) clay? The hopper tends to dig in rather than compress, and you worry that it might eventually disappear.
S
Sebastian7910 Jun 2016 10:44You can't really compact clay, so that isn't necessary.
We only had the finest rabbit sand...
We only had the finest rabbit sand...
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